I haven't taken the old engine apart yet but I plan on it probably sometime next week. Installing my new engine is more of a priority at this point in time. The pistons don't have any holes in them so I'm assuming it is a problem with the rings or ring lands. My compression test probably 2 months ago showed cylinder #1 only holding about 60% of what the others were holding. I've been driving it daily since then and matters have gotten progressively worse.

I do know the rings are very close to the top of the piston and although there are other Dakota guys seeing 10+ pounds of boost on the stock pistons I like to think they are on borrowed time. Not only that, most boosted Dakotas have centrifugal blowers and unlike a turbo they only see max boost at max rpm. I reach max boost shortly after I nail the gas pedal and as low as 2500rpm and it stays there until I let off. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's putting relatively more stress on the pistons during any given WOT opportunity.